Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Contaminated Groundwater using Cationic Metal−Organic Frameworks

TL;DR

Scientists tested new materials called cationic metal-organic frameworks to remove harmful PFAS chemicals from water, achieving very high removal rates.

Contribution

The study introduces cationic metal–organic frameworks as highly effective adsorbents for PFAS removal from contaminated water.

Findings

Cationic MOFs achieved up to 99.9% removal efficiency for PFAS mixtures in aqueous systems.

The materials showed strong electrostatic interactions with anionic PFAS compounds.

This approach outperforms conventional methods like activated carbon and ion exchange resins.

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent and toxic environmental contaminants frequently detected in water sources, posing serious threats to both human health and ecosystems. Conventional treatment methods, such as activated carbon and ion exchange resins, often show limited effectiveness across the diverse range of PFAS compounds. Cationic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising adsorbents for PFAS removal due to their crystallinity, high surface area, and strong electrostatic interactions with anionic species. In this study, we evaluated the performance of selected cationic MOFs for the adsorption of PFAS mixtures from aqueous systems.

Our results demonstrated removal efficiencies of up to 99.9%, underscoring the strong potential of these materials for effective PFAS remediation. These findings highlight the promise of cationic MOFs as viable and efficient adsorbents to help mitigate the growing environmental challenge posed by PFAS contamination in water.